The Poetry in Thee

“Poetry,” quoth Carl Sandburg, “is a search for syllables to shoot at the barriers of the unknown and unknowable.”

I have loved to read poetry for as long as I can remember being able to read, and I have enjoyed writing poetry since I was about eight years old. Scarcely a handful of my poems would I deem truly readable by others, but that really isn’t the point. I don’t think there was ever a time when I sat down to write a poem with the motive of, say…an architect, bent on designing his magnum opus, a work that would earn him a name in history–or some extra digits in his paycheck. Rather, I was like a teen, given a driving permit, who eyed the open road with the urge to follow it as far as possible to see where it led. Someone once said that we do not write to be understood, but to understand. This is the gift of words. This is the gift of poetry.

I have written about the usual flotsam and jetsam over the years, but the predominant theme of my poetry has been my journey to better understand the God Who created me. And these rhymes are usually accompanied by tunes that turn them into songs. I don’t pretend to know anything about music theory or song writing, but when God sends me ideas, I write them down. I know that anything good in them cannot come from me, but from the Father of lights, who gives every good and perfect gift that we might know and love Him more.

Recently, my Bible reading has been in the Psalms, and I cannot express the pleasure that can be found in them! Every psalm is written like a love song to the Lord–every psalm is like a poem extolling the beauty and glory of God–every psalm is like a treasure map of clues to finding the heart of our Creator. The book of Psalms is like a volume of poetry written about God and for God and by God. Reading through it thrills something deep inside me, calls out everything in me to join David and Ethan and Moses in penning praise to the Chief Musician. Reading the Psalms has helped me understand why I write.

“Thy Word strikes up within me

The sweetest symphony!

The harmony of Heaven 

My humble tune sets free.

Surrounded by such wonders, 

I cannot silent be!

The poetry in Thee calls forth 

The poetry in me. 

“Thy faithfulness and mercy 

For all the world to see–

Thy truth a testimony 

Unstained by sin’s decree–

Thy blood that bought my blessings 

Still speaks from Calvary–

The poetry in Thee calls forth 

The poetry in me.” 

I write poetry, and will continue to write poetry, not to copy others, not to find fame or win wealth or seek significance. I write to learn to understand the Lord and to help others understand Him. As the Psalmist said, “My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.”

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” ~ Psalm 89:1